When it comes to maximizing your local marketing efforts, Google reviews aren’t just nice to have — they’re essential. An up-to-date Google Business Profile that includes real and positive customer reviews helps your business stand out online, improves local search rankings, and builds immediate trust with potential customers.
Google Business Profiles were formerly known as Google My Business or GMB — and, in this article, we’ll use the term “GMB reviews” to refer to Google Reviews.
So, if you’re wondering how to get GMB reviews for your business — or why they matter so much in the first place — this guide is for you.
Why GMB Reviews Are Important
Local companies often have a lot on their plates, and the last thing they focus on is their GMB reviews. It’s an easy thing to let fall by the wayside. Yet, GMB reviews are essential to maximizing business results.
1. They Improve Local SEO
Google’s algorithm loves fresh, authentic GMB reviews. This type of content signals that your business is active and relevant — and that your community trusts it.
And it’s not just about quantity either. The recency and quality of GMB reviews also directly influence a business’s ranking in local searches.
The more complete and frequently updated your Google Business Profile is — including reviews — the better your chances of appearing in the coveted local “Google 3-Pack,” which displays the top three local business listings in search results.
Pro tip: Ask your most loyal, happy customers to specifically mention your services or the products they purchased in their GMB reviews. That level of specificity, in addition to keywords, can help boost your company’s searchability even further.
2. They Build Immediate Trust with Potential Customers
According to a recent BrightLocal study, up to 98% of consumers read reviews before making a purchase, and Google is often the first stop.
Why is this such typical consumer behavior?
- Consumers want to hear from other real customers before they make a decision on a product or service — especially when they have multiple businesses to choose from.
- Consumers like to have social proof to support their decisions, so they can feel confident about their purchases.
- Positive reviews act like word-of-mouth endorsements — especially if they feel authentic and specific.
3. They Enhance Your Website
Don’t just leave your glowing GMB reviews on your Google profile — use them to enhance your website.
Here are some ideas to maximize your reviews on your site:
- Add a testimonials section or carousel to your website to display multiple reviews.
- Pull in specific positive quotes for case studies or product pages.
- Add star ratings to product listings or service pages to further reinforce credibility.
- Add a dynamic review widget or carousel to your homepage or testimonials page.
Pro tip: Including Google reviews on your site reinforces social proof while keeping your content fresh and impactful.
How to Get More GMB Reviews
If you’ve ever searched “How to get Google reviews for my business,” here are three easy ways to quickly stack up more:
1. Make It Easy to Leave a Review
One of the biggest reasons customers aren’t leaving GMB reviews? They don’t know how to leave a Google review for a business.
Customers may not know where to post the review (or the process doesn’t feel easy or frictionless), so they automatically opt out. To overcome that challenge, here are a few friction-free strategies for how to get Google reviews:
- Create a custom Google review link. Be sure to include this link in post-purchase communications, such as emails or texts, so consumers have a one-click way to quickly share their thoughts.
- Use QR codes. From adding these codes to receipts and packaging to signage and menus, there are many ways to get more visibility among consumers and provide an easy access point to your GMB reviews page when they scan the code.
- Add review reminders. In today’s cluttered digital world, it’s easy for consumers to forget to leave a review — even if they had the best intentions to do so. In addition to making the process as easy and fast as possible, share little reminders, call-to-actions, and cues in newsletters, on thank-you pages, and on social media.
2. Make it Worthwhile to Leave a Review
Although it typically only takes a few minutes to leave a review, it can still be helpful to incentivize consumers to do so.
Offering rewards for positive reviews violates Google’s policies, but that doesn’t mean you cannot encourage GMB reviews through broader loyalty-building programs and incentives.
Check out these ideas:
- Provide freebies. By offering consumers a little something extra for leaving a review — whether it’s a coupon offer or free shipping on their next purchase — you can increase goodwill and boost the chances they’ll leave a review.
- Introduce a giveaway or contest. Consumers always love giveaways, and this type of incentive is an excellent way to increase your GMB reviews. In this scenario, consumers who leave a review are entered into a prize drawing. You could offer a gift card, a product set, or an enticing service.
- Offer bonus points. If you have a loyalty program, consider adding bonus points for consumers who leave a review.
- Make it personal. Brick-and-mortar shops can add a small note or card that feels personal to the customer and thanks them for their business while reminding them to leave a review via a QR code. Online companies can personalize post-purchase email communications that also nudge their customers to leave a review.
Just remember, you can never offer a reward in exchange for a positive review. It must be framed as an open-ended ask for feedback.
3. Respond to Every Review (Yes, Every Single One!)
Responding to your GMB reviews — whether they’re positive or negative — shows consumers that you care. Prospective customers will appreciate that you are engaged and attentive to feedback; you’ll also build loyalty with existing customers.
Here are some important things to keep in mind when responding to reviews:
- Graciously thank people for positive reviews and mention specific details from their post, so your response feels more personal.
- Address negative reviews promptly and professionally — and never engage in an argument with a customer. Come with a solution in mind to diffuse the situation.
Remember: A thoughtful response can turn a mediocre or standard three-star review into a five-star customer retention win. Plus, engaging with your GMB reviews also signals to Google that you’re actively managing your profile, which can help with your SEO ranking.
Integrate GMB Reviews into Your Marketing Strategy
Whether you’re running a restaurant or coffee shop, an Etsy store, a clinic, or something else entirely, GMB reviews are a powerful and low-cost tool to grow your business.
They influence search rankings, build trust and loyalty among consumers, and drive decision-making. With a few simple strategies, you can maximize the benefits of every positive customer interaction while mitigating the impact of negative experiences.
If you’d like some help to manage customer engagement and make GMB reviews an active part of your SEO and marketing strategy, The Threadgill Agency is the perfect choice. We specialize in fully integrated digital marketing solutions for local businesses seeking to expand their impact and reach, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.